Thousands of protesters in South Korea have been demonstrating near a vote-counting facility in eastern Seoul for three days, alleging fraud in last week’s local elections and calling for a fresh vote. Around 3,000 people were estimated to be present at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward, with a larger crowd of 30,000 gathering the day before. The protesters are monitoring the entrances of the facility where ballot boxes are stored, demanding a redo of the elections.
Protests have persisted following reports of ballot paper shortages at several polling stations in Seoul, leading to temporary voting suspensions. Some voters reportedly left without casting their ballots due to the shortages. The National Election Commission (NEC) officials, around 20 to 30 in number, who were believed to be stuck inside the facility, managed to leave on Saturday, although the NEC has not officially confirmed this.
In response to the situation, NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak and NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon tendered their resignations. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has intensified its call for a new election and proposed discussions with President Lee Jae Myung. PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok emphasized the need for a new election to address the public’s growing discontent and criticized the ruling party’s proposed probes as insufficient to resolve the issue.
Representative Jang described the ongoing protests as a “civil resistance movement” that cannot be overlooked. He demanded an immediate meeting with President Lee Jae Myung and warned of increased public resistance if the president proceeds with his scheduled trip to Europe without addressing the election concerns. President Lee himself expressed disappointment over the incident, urging authorities to investigate the root cause and ensure accountability.
